Springfield nonprofit I Pour Life is launching a new initiative called Community Coaches in addition to its LifeStrengths program.
LifeStrengths is a 12-month personal development system tailored to meet the individual needs of homeless and at-risk youth by pairing participants with an on-staff LifeCoach. Coaches work with participants in areas such as housing and job security, education, financial literacy, and emotional well-being.
Now, community members can get involved as coaches, according to Creative Director Maureen Graham.
“We are looking to pair different people from the community with youth, and be another person for them to look up to other than just their life coach that is on staff at I Pour Life.”
Graham says as of mid-June, 44 youth are participating in the program.
“Five of them launched into the program with jobs, and now 13 of them have jobs. Seven have opened a checking account, five have opened a savings account, two of them have gotten their diploma or GED, and five have gotten stable housing.”
In addition to its Community Coaches program, I Pour Life hosts family dinners every second Thursday. They are open to the public and offer people a chance to get to know the youth involved.
I Pour Life began in 2009 when Executive Director Julie Higgins traveled to El Salvador. Her experience led her to develop an organization dedicated to providing a hand up to individuals who need it most. More information is available at the I Pour Life website.